Automatic yarn winding machine



Feb 23, 1954 J. R. GRADY ET Al.l

AUTOMATIC YARN WINDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 16, 1949 J. R. GRADY ET Al. 2,670,151 AUTOMATIC YARN WINDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 23, 1954 Filed June 16, 1949 Feb. 23, 1954 J. R. GRADY l-:T AL 2,670,151

AUTOMATIC YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed June 16. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 23, 1954 PATENT L. i Mschampgi'ramhall assignent() saidfMs'eha England; said Grady` Application J ual; 1949-SeialNm 99,482.. Clix'is priorityy-application Great Britain 20 for; Y pnznsf or n'relative15:.:`v heavy packages;. f hasf kthe 1 disadvantagefthatzit iis: not positive: Even f. with: Dirns hasfbJeenr. known?v tori* thema :ietf-tof. fall completely;clearfanduthenebyfobstriuctithe reload@` ingfrof the windingfstationo..5.` Withiight;packages, 25

suche as 'esmali quills?r i this? uneertaintyifwoulobbe even-"morevtroublesomevas;theftensioni in .ther yarn: s.lv or possilfclyeeventhe-.fitrofthacoirefin the maohinegi; or both together? may -ibefrsuftlzientato holdethe.: bobbin completelyfon atleast partly inzthef*Winde- .y ing:istation.;,. Othertfpoints: of 'importance` which areator .can fbefa-fected byrrsuch :uncertaintyn are; thefctrappi'ngY 'of Lthei'yarn for;A nestarting=rwinding maintaining oyarmtensionsoxasgte :prevent-une desired iaction tofff knockz ofi?l mechanisme and:4 possibly fthe; unwindingeof what;x might-be: a.;sulov 35 stantiali' length/of :ithe'z yarn fleaving; arreunneces-z sarily,.'1ong ffreepend: L;

The object-:ofithe;presentfinventioneisuto over. comefthe aforesaid; disadvantages;

According; to ithefinventionvarrautomatic'winde= 40 ing machine of the:kindareferred'tov is"charaeeterised bys'meansfzfor'sgripping thesfuliflpaokage whi-Ieain pithaiwindmgf.' stations` after minding: has i; stopped Sand; positivelyfsremoving theesamenfrom.; the:winding:posit-ionew 4 ThI .machine aaforesaichmayi'be :Eurtherxchar i acterised in thatrth'e grilming@meansisl arranged to 'hol'dl .the full 'packageradjacent tofithe.I Winding.: station after removing it therefromzbutz-se ias'not to: obstruct-'zrel'oading 'of thezmach'inefand so 50 maintain apredeterminedtensizonzandrdirectionf; of 'thefyarrr during-reloading? oit'furtlif-mc1f1aran r f teriedinzthatxzthe glillpmgmeans-:istted .Withtri relier ywirerebyfthem-can:easilybe engagedxb' roliingsmotion withlfthepackageiyetzprouideftrc 5:55

tional grip against endwise movement :roftthea' package ;1 ori* further; characterised finiti-helianthe grippingv meansv is arranged lso as tofmoveff-.urtlier away from the winding stationfaitentife'-iteloadi-tf ingqoperation .and-"so Iasifthereby tos canse;zreleasenA of #its package; 'or Vfurther'"eharacterisediinthatsv the gripping.fmeans1` embodies:` an ejeetonriforfstliinv package: adapted-f to contacte a'. stationaryrfpaati with the saidfurtherfmovementrof 'thefgifppinrga means:

InY ytnef accompanyingzdrawings:

Fig. 1 is aplan;

Fig.. 12' is va: part -isectionalt side :elevatinm: andi Fig. 3 isl an'endview showingfoneexampletof a Winding :machine lmade infaccordann ei Ether; invention;

Figi: .4f is adetailxwendselevatiorr ofpartz-ofthe same-windingcmacl'linee:

Fig: 5 i's a detail'v sectionfzofithe:Windinggheadci spindle.

Iii-the: example? oi thefnventimshomn irrtthe; drawings, (fixed: to th'eewindingraheazdibelnwr amd effi-'set ffromfr the fwindng spind'l'el Elvis". nodi: Il 1 parallelwh theaxisofitlfiefspindier. is providedxwithsashead.: ltf havingna `fifmge 4:8 Sli'dabigw rotatablyifmounted'x oriz' suchnrod is: arsleevee I at onerendfof. Whichsisan armeni-hama ingfahead i3" onfzwhichf arera 1.pair-freineiaiinpsetlk? each:holdingI a U -shapeda springwireel. the: eniisit of each of :which are; turned: in -toriioidiafgripping'i roller 1 Se The cIamps'a-canfbe:released foriadlstl-fi ingthe positonfandrtensioir-ozi-thetgrippingeroitee ers: Theclampszsfconsistrl of; 'platelsn'` secmxedafbyf screws i4', whichclampszhbldithefwirevinazgroover in;l fthe! lfi'ead" so that fit1-ie. Wiresfrzmaywr be aremovedfor'th'e` purposea of ."changingsrthem .for othersxl of? diierent size'. The arm'flfis also adjnstahlisrfseef.. curedfon'therendfof' the sleeve Ll-Z so that th'e-posi I tion 1of the rollers-v4` lEi.` relative: tolthe packageA FTW maybe 1acl'guisted*100th lradiallydand axir'afll'fif'oi'ti'ie sleeve. At :the other .end offthasle'eveis aetoetiiedf pinion I=8lfiavi-ng a ange-l 8- at each sideffiarger* diameter`v than the teeth.

carriedat onexe'ndA by-a-'bracket'Z 'attachedfto the* winding-heady The Atail or tipA yendloracli'etiZ:I loi" the Windingmachine is carried bythe 'rodiilzandi on-.tipgendi relativefto. thegqnilla,suehamonementi; bein-gl effectedfrom. therautomatonibyf a;-pushyimedi;y

24, of flat cross section, connected to the tail stock 23. Secured to the shaft i9 is a toothed quadrant 25 the toothed edge of which is located between the fianges I8' and is in mesh with the pinion I8. On the end of the shaft IS adjacent to the headstock is fixed an arm 25.5 carrying a bowl 2'! (see Fig. 2) which is engaged between cam edges 28, one only of which is shewn and which cam is driven by the automaton, such cam providing oscillatory movement in both directions of the shaft I9 and through the quadrant 25 and pinion I8 amplified oscillatory movement of the sleeve I2. Near the other end of the shaft l s are fixed a pair of collars 2S spaced slightly apart and adapted to be engaged by a peg 3B on a lever SI which is pivoted by one end to a bracket 32 attached to the end bracket 2i. The other end of the lever is forked and is engaged with a stud 33 (see Figs. 1 and 2) on the lower part of tbe tailstock 23.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the arm I3 has an ejector 34 of T-shape (see also Fig. 1), the tail of which is forked, the ends of the fork being bent round to clip over a pivot pin 35 about which the ejector is free to pivot. In the head I3 of the arm is an adjustable screw stop 3G the end of which forms stop to position the ejector so that the head of the ejector 34 and the two rollers IB provide triangulated holding points for the quill Il. On the rod IS are fixed a pair of blocks 37, which are in register with the arm I3, so that, as described later, such arm can move between them and the ejector can be engaged with the ends of the blocks for ejection of the quill.

On the shaft 22 is slidably mounted a slide 36 to which is attached a collector fork 38 the slide having a key 45 sliding in a key-way 4I in the shaft. The slide 38 is adapted to be moved along the rod by a link 42 connected to the automaton.

In operation, assume a quill is in the winding station and winding has just been stopped by any suitable measuring mechanism which at the same time starts the automaton, such mechanism being well known in automatic winders. The cam faces 2B commence to rotate and turn the shaft I9 which through the quadrant 2t and pinion i8 causes the arm i3 to rise pushing the rollers I6 over the quill I1 and so that the head of the ejector 34 rests against the underside of the quill, giving a triangulated Contact with the quill while the latter is still between the centres of the winding head. While the arm I3 is held in this position, the tailstock 23 is pushed back by the automaton through the push rod 24 which movement also, through the lever 3l, peg 30 and collars 29 pulls back the rod i9 through about half the distance of the movement of the tailstcck 23. The rod I9 through the quardant 25 and iianges I8 moves the sleeve I2 with its arm I3 along the rod I I through such half distance. Thus the tip end 23 is withdrawn from the quill I'I' and the quill is withdrawn from the spindle head I0' the quill being still held substantially in axial alignment with the centres of the winding head. The cam faces 23 now operate to turn the arm i3 lowering the quill into a waiting position in which the ejector 34 is about to engage the blocks 31 for ejection and while the quill is held in this waiting position the automaton draws the collector fork 39 over the top of the quill so that its hooked forked ends engage the thread and draw it towards the winding spindle, such thread (not shewn) being still in vtension between the'quill and a yarn guide not shewn. The thread therefore assumes a substantially vertical and predetermined position 4 between the hooks and is brought by them towards the spindle head Iii' until it engages the iiange H32 for the purpose of enabling the thread to be brought into position for gripping between the head I8 and the flange H12 as described in detail in co-pending application Serial No. 99,481.

After a new tube or core has been brought into position between the tip end 23 and the winding spindle head I3', (means not shown) the automaton now pulls the rod 24 closing the tip end 23' onto the new core and this movement of the tailstock also causes return sliding movement of the gripper arm I3 but without performing any function. Thread cutting mechanism is then brought into action and the automaton also returns the collector fork to its original position and the means not shewn which brought the new core to the winding station.

Finally, the cam faces 28 turn the sleeve l2 lowering the arm I3 for the ejection of the full quill which is caused by the engagement of the ejector 34 with the blocks 3? arresting its movement while the arm I3 is lowered further to its normal, or idle position. The ejected quill falls into a basket or other suitable receptacle.

.As shewn in Fig, 5 the winding spindle It the end of which is shewn in chain line is drilled to receive alternative sizes and shapes of adaptor heads l0 according to the tube to be used. The present device is therefore shewn as an adaptor head and consists of a spindle portion t3 with a screw-threaded extension 44 and spigot tail 45 adapted for fixing in location in the end of the spindle. The spindle portion 43 has a flange i G2 and is formed with a cylindrical axial end socket 0,5. Slidably located in such end socket is a plunger IS' having a tail 4l located in the socket, a cross pin d8 limiting its axial movement and constraining it to rotate with the spindle end 43. In the socket is a light compression spring de. The plunger i0 has a conical portion 59 the base of which is formed with a peripheral rim E0 adapted to lie against the end face of the iiange 592, so that such adjacent faces form a yarnreceiving and clamping means. At the outer end, the plunger I is formed with a small extension or centre 5I of a size suitable to t into and locate the end of the quill tube 52, behind which extension is a groove for a friction ring 53.

The tailstock is of known construction and includes a free running spindle 54 carried in a bush 55 slidably mounted in a housing 56 with limited cushion spring axial movement, (the spring not being shewn) the housing 58 being adjustable in the tailstock 23 which latter is adapted to be mechanically advanced and withdrawn by the automaton as already described and the cushion spring being partially compressed when a quill tube is in position. The spindle has an adaptor head or tip end 2.3' which is changeable for different sizes and shapes of tube.

In operation, as soon as the tailstock is withdrawn hy the automaton, the full quill is released and the plunger IB is urged forward by its spring t9 to open the base of the cone 58 from the nange H32. The parts are in this position ready to receive the yarn between them when it is brought against the ilange by the hooked collector arm S9.

What we claim is:

1. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a wound package by winding a lament on to a core while held between centres, comprising package-gripping means, pivotal mounting means therefor having an axis parallel to and adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package gripping ment with a wound package held between said centres, said centres consisting of a winding spindle and tailstcck respectively, means for moving the tailstock axially of and away from the core to withdraw it from the core, means for moving the package-gripping means towards the tailstock, for a distance less than the movement of the latter, so as to move the package axially in alignment with the centres and withdraw the core from the winding spindle, means for moving the package-gripping means away from the centres to carry the wound package to a waiting position so that the filament leading thereto is held in tension in a predetermined position for further manipulation, lament-receiving and clamping means on the winding spindle, comprising a iiange secured to the winding spindle and a plunger head axially movable thereto but constrained to rotate with the spindle, a light spring normally holding the plunger head away from the liange but adapted to be over-powered by axial holding pressure on the core, nlament collector means normally adjacent the tailstock and means for moving the iilament collector means towards the Winding spindle so as to engage the filament and carry it to a position adjacent such spindle and so that Such iilament enters between the said ange and plunger head.

8. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a wound package by winding a filament on to a core while held between centres, comprising package-gripping means adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package gripping means into gripping engagement with a wound package held between said centres, said centres consisting of a winding spindle and tailstock respectively, means for moving the tailstock axially of, and away from, the core to withdraw it from the core, means for moving the package-gripping means towards the tailstock, for a distance less than the movement of the latter, so as to move the package axially in alignment with the centres and withdraw the core from the winding spindle, means for moving the package-gripping means away from the centres to carry the wound package to a waiting position so that the filament leading thereto is held in tension in a predetermined position for further manipulation, iilament-receiving and clamping l" means on the wmomg spindle, comprising a flange secured to the winding spindle and a plunger head axially movable thereto but constrained to rotate with the spindle, a light spring normally holding the plunger head away from the flange but adapted to be over-powered by axial holding pressure on the core, iilament collector means normally adjacent the tailstock, means for moving the iilament collector means towards the winding spindle so as to engage the filament and carry it to a position adjacent such spindle and so that such filament enters between the said iiange and plunger head, and means for moving the tailstock to grip a new core between the centres and cause the core to push back the plunger head on to the filament.

9. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a wound package by winding a filament on to a core while held between centres, comprising package-gripping means adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package-gripping means into gripping engagement with a wound package Vheld between said centres, said centres consisting of a windingspindie and tailstock respectively, means for moving the tailstock axially of,'and away from, the core 'tween centres,

to withdraw it from the core, means for moving the package-gripping means towards the tailstock, for a distance less than the movement of the latter, so as to move the package axially in alignment with the centres and withdraw the core from the winding spindle, means for moving the package-gripping means away from the centres to carry the wound package to a waiting position so that the filament leading thereto is held in tension in a predetermined position for further manipulation, filament-receiving and clamping means on the winding spindle, comprising a flange secured to the winding spindle and a plunger head axially movable thereto but constrained to rotate with the spindle, a light spring normally holding the plunger head away from the ange but adapted to be overpowered by axial holding pressure on the core, lament collector means normally adjacent the tailstock, means for moving the lament collector means towards the winding spindle so as to engage the nlament and carry it to a position adjacent such spindle and so that such lament enters between the said flange and plunger head, means for moving the tailstock to grip a new core between the centres and cause the core to push back the plunger head on to the filament, and means for returning thc filament-collector to the tailstock end of the mal chine before commencing winding.

l0. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a wound package by winding a iilament on to a core while held between centres, comprising package-gripping means adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package-gripping means into gripping engagement with a wound package held between said centres, said centres consisting of a winding spindle and tailstock respectively, means for moving the tailstock axially of, and away from, the core to Withdraw it from the core, means for moving the package-gripping means towards the tailstock, for a distance less than the movement of the latter, so as to move the package axially in alignment with the centres and withdraw the core from the winding spindle, means for moving the package-gripping means away from the centres to carry the wound package to a waiting position so that the ilament leading thereto is held in tension in a predetermined position for further manipulation, iilament-receiving and clamping means on the winding spindle, comprising a flange secured to the winding spindle and a plunger head axially movable thereto but constrained to rotate with the spindle, a light spring normally holding the plunger head away from the flange but adapted to be over-powered by axial holding pressure on the core, filament collector means normally adjacent the tailstock, means for moving the lament collector means towards the winding spindie so as to engage the lilarnent and carry it to a position adjacent such spindle and so that such filament enters between the said flange and plunger head, means for moving the tailstock to grip a new core between the centres and cause the core to push back the plunger head on to the filament, means for returning the filamentcollector to the tailstock end of the machine before commencing winding and means for ejecting the wound package from the package-gripping means. i

ll. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a wound package by winding a lament on to a core while held becomprising package-gripping means pivotal mounting means therefor having an axis parallel to and adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package-gripping means into gripping engagement with a wound package held between said centres, means for releasing the core of the wound package from between centres after engagement by said package-gripping means, means for moving the package-gripping means away from the centres to carry the woundpackage to a waiting position parallel to the winding position and so that the lament leading thereto is held in tension in a predetermined position for further manipulation and means for ejecting the wound package from the package-gripping means, said packagegripping means comprising a pair of resiliently mounted rollers which, with the ejection means provide a triangulated hold for the package.

12. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a wound package by winding a lament on to a core while held between ce-ntres, comprising package-gripping means, pivotal mounting means therefor having an axis parallel to and adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package-gripping means into gripping engagement with a wound package held between said centres, said centres consisting of a winding spindle and tailstock respectively, means for moving the tailstock axially of, and away from, the core to withdraw it from the core, means for moving the package-gripping means towards the tailstock, for a distance less than the movement of the latter, so as to move the package axially in alignment with the centres and withdraw the core from the Winding spindle, means for moving the package-gripping means away from the centres to carry the wound package to a waiting position parallel to the winding. position and so that the filament leading thereto is held in tension in a predetermined position for further manipulation and means for ejecting the wound package from the packagegripping means, said package-gripping means comprising a pair of resiliently mounted rollers which, with the ejection means, provide a triangulated hold for the' package.

13. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a wound package by winding a filament on to a core while held between centres, means adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package gripping means into gripping engagement with a, wound package held between said centres, said centres consisting of a winding spindle and tailstock respectively, means for moving the tailstock axially of, and away from, the core to withdraw it from the core, means for moving the package-gripping means towards the tailstock, for a distance less than'th'e movement of the latter, so as to move the package axially in alignment with the centres and withdraw the core from the winding spindle, means for moving the package-gripping means away from the centres to carry the wound package to a wait-` ing position so that the iilament leading thereto is held in tension in a predetermined position for further manipulation, filament-receiving and clamping means on the winding spindle, comprising a flange secured to the winding spindle andi a plunger head axially movable thereto but constrained to rotate with the spindle, a light spring normally holding the plunger head away from the flange but adapted to be over-powered by axial holding pressure on the core, filament collector means normally adjacent the tailstock.

comprising package-gripping l' means for moving the lament collector means towards the winding spindle so as to engage the filament and carry it to a position adjacent suc-h spindle and so that such filament enters between the said flange and plunger head, means for moving the tailstock to grip a new core between the centres and cause the core to push back the plunger head on to the filament, means for returning the filament-collector to the tailstock end of the machine before commencing winding and means rfor ejecting the wound package from the package-gripping means, said package-gripping means comprising a pair of resiliently mounted rollers which, with the ejection means, provide a triangulatecl hold for the package.

14. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a Wound package by winding a lament on to a core while held between centres, comprising package-gripping means adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package-gripping means into gripping engagement with a wound package held between said centres, said centres consisting of a winding spindle and tailstock respectively, means for moving the tailstock axially of, and away from, the core to withdraw it from the core, means for moving the package-gripping means towards the tailstock, for a distance less than the movement of the latter, so as to move the package axially in alignment with the centres and withdraw the core from the winding spindle, means for moving the package-gripping means away from the centres to carry the wound package to a waiting position so that the filament leading thereto is held in tension in a predetermined position for further manipulation and means for ejecting the wound package from the package-gripping means, said means for moving the package-gripping means to release the core from the winding spindle comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the machine at one end connected to tailstock at the other end and connected intermediately of its ends to the package-gripping means so as to move the latter simultaneously with the tailstock but through a smaller distance.

15. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a wound package by wind-ing a filament on to a core while held between centres, comprising package-gripping means adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package-gripping means into gripping engagement with a wound package held between said centres, said centres consisting of a winding spindle andtailstock respectively, means for moving the tailstock axially of, and away from the core to Withdraw it from the core, means for moving the package-gripping means towards the tailstock, for a distance less than the movement ofthe latter, so as to move the package axially in alignment with the centres and withdraw the core from the` winding spindle, means for moving the packagegrapping means away from the centres to carry the wound package to a waiting position so that the lament leading thereto is held in tension in a predetermined position for further manipulation and means for ejecting the wound package from the package-gripping means, said means for moving the package-gripping means to release the core from the winding spindle comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the machine at one end connected to tailstock at the other end and connected intermediately of its ends to the package-gripping means so as to move the V11 lattersimultaneouslz,T with the tailstock but through a smaller distance and said packagegripping means comprising a pair of resiliently mounted rollers which, with the ejection means provide a triangulated hold for the package.

16. A winding station for an automatic winding machine for producing a Wound package by winding a Afilament, on to a core while held between centres, comprising package-gripping means adjacent to the said centres, means for moving the package-gripping means into gripping engagement with a wound package held between said centres, said centres consisting of a winding spindle and tailstock respectively, means for moving the tailstock axially of, and away from, the core to withdraw it from the core, means for moving the package-gripping means towards the tailstock, for a distance less than the movement of the latter, so as to move the package axially in alignment with the centres 'and withdraw the core from the Winding spindle, means for moving the package-gripping means away'from the centres to carry the wound package to a waiting position so that the filament leadingVthereto is held in tension in a prede- Kterrnine'd position for further manipulation, filament-receiving and clamping.v means on the lwin'ding'spindle, comprising a ilange secured to "the 'winding spindle and'- a plunger head axially movable thereto but constrained to rotate with tthe spindle, a light spring normally holding the plunger head away from the flange but adapted to beover-powered by axial holding pressure on 'theI core, lament collector means normally adacent the' tailstock, means for moving the illa- J'mentcollector means towards the winding f'spindle so' aste engage the filament and carry it to a position adjacent such spindle, and so that ='such-nlament` enters between the said iiange 'andi plunger head,"means for moving the tail- -stock to grip a new core between the centres fandcause `the core to push back the plunger flieadfon vtotne nlamenirfmeans for returning the -lament-collector to the tailstockk end of i"themachine before commencing winding, means for ejecting the wound packageY from the pack- 'age-gripping means, said package-gripping means comprising a'pair of resiliently mounted rollers which V"with the ejection means provide a tria'ngulated hold for the package and said means for moving Y.the package-gripping means to release the core from the windingspindle comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the machine 12 at one 'end connected to tail'stock at the vother end and connected intermediately of its ends to the package-gripping means so as to move the latter simultaneously with the tailstock but through a smaller distance.

17. In an automatic winding machine the combination of a pair of gripping members resilient- 1y urgedtowards each other to grip the sides of a wound package, a base support between adjacent said gripping members cooperating with the gripping members, said gripping members and base support being circumferentially spaced about the package and forming a three point engagement with -the wound package, and means for moving the base support relative to the gripping members to eject the package therefrom.

18. In an. automatic winding machine as claimed in claim 17, a variable positionable stop provided normally to locate the base support.

19. In an automatic winding machine the combination of a pair of gripping members resiliently urged towards each other to grip the wound packvage by its sides, an ejector member adjacent said gripping members, said gripping members and ejector member being spaced circumferentially of the package and cooperating to grip the package at three spaced circumferential points and means-for moving the ejector member relativeto the gripping members to eject the package therefrom. A f y 20. In an automatic winding machine as claimed in claim 17, freely rotatable rollers forming the package-gripping members. v JOHN ROBERT GRADY.

v y HAROLD L. MUSCHAMP. f

References cited in the sie ofthis patent UNITED STATES :PATENTS Number Name y p Date 782,487 Clark Feb. 14, 1905 1,026,503 Rhoades 1 1 May 14, 1912 1,121,103 n Hooper -T D ec. 15, 1914 2,354,32a'- Lane -l July 25, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date "678,474 ""'France Dec. 24,y 1929 385,867 Great Britain Jan. 5,1933 171,000 `""Switzerland- Oct.'16,1934 44,564. France Dec. 5,' 1934 (Second addition to 756893)i 338,193V "Switzerland Mal'. 16; 1937 

